Friday, 7 March 2008

Vote for Democracy and Freedom

STOPPING THE SPIN – EXPLODING THE WASTED VOTE MYTH

Heard the one about AD? Have you received an email about what they’re up to? Listened in to the whispering campaign? Sat in on the spin? Well here’s to putting the record straight and stopping the spin and scaremongering. Here, we try and clarify the situation so you may vote freely for the political party of your choice having all the facts at your disposal. We do facts not fiction, sincerity not spin.

Theysay that a vote for AD is a vote for the MLP. Is this true?

Incorrect. This statement is based on the assumption that all the people who vote for AD have previously voted for PN. This is very far from the truth. AD’s potential voting pool comes from a wide variety of sources. There is a core Green vote consisting of people who have always voted for the Greens, new voters (over 17,000), people who have voted for the MLP and people who would not cast their vote if the Green Party was not contesting. By no stretch of the imagination can it be stated that every person who votes for AD intended to vote for the Nationalist party. In any case votes do not “belong” to any political party but to the voter who may use it as s/he pleases at different times.

They say that a vote for AD is a wasted vote.

Our voting system allows voters to ensure that their vote is not lost or wasted. By voting for AD and then continuing to vote for other candidates from other parties, one ensures that if the AD candidate is not elected, the second preference candidate will “inherit” his vote and has a chance of being elected. AD welcomes cross-party voting and encourages voters to give their 2nd or any subsequent preference to other favoured political parties. This would ensure that no vote is wasted.

They say that people vote AD to teach the PN a lesson. Is this true?

Voters vote the way they do for a variety of reasons. They vote for a party such as AD which has been consistent and honest regarding a number of issues such as its pro-EU stance, need for a culture change, environmental and economical improvements, civil rights and integrity in public dealings. If another party has not been consistent or credible about these issue it is natural that voters will not be inclined to vote for it. After all votes have to be earned and no party is automatically entitled to votes regardless of its performance in the 5 years between elections.

They say that it is impossible for AD to be elected to Parliament.

If approximately 2500 in one district vote for AD then it is very likely that AD will elect a member to Parliament. Considering that AD has been working very hard to explain and promote its vision for a coalition government for all the Maltese people, the prospects of this happening are very good.

They say that a coalition is impossible because of the recent changes to the electoral law.

A coalition government is possible when either of the major parties does not obtain an absolute majority (50% plus 1). In this case, and with AD having elected a representative/s, the party having a relative majority may link up with AD to form a coalition government.

They say that AD wants to form a coalition with the MLP?

AD will form a coalition with the major political party which agrees with its priorities for the country as published in AD’s manifesto. These points have been made public for the sake of transparency and public scrutiny and may be viewed on www.alternattiva.org.mt

They say that a coalition can’t be formed because Gonzi is not keen on the idea.

It is the electorate which decides whether a coalition should be formed. Politicians cannot ignore the sovereign wish of the people. If people have voted for AD to form a coalition government, dismissing this possibility is rather arrogant. If the people want an AD-PN coalition, then it would be very strange for a PN politician to discard this unique opportunity, preferring to have the MLP governing instead.

They say that AD criticises the PN only.

Over the years AD has criticised both the PN and the MLP if the major parties policies and actions are questionable. AD’s criticism of the MLP’s surcharge proposal is a case in point. Criticism should not be perceived as an attack and is necessary in a democratic society. Only despots try to crush out criticism. The PN has been in government for 21 years. It cannot expect to be above criticism and scrutiny.

They say that if AD is a coalition partner it will have a disproportionate amount of power and will render the government unstable.

It would be self-defeating for AD to hold its coalition partner to ransom and act unreasonably as this would translate into a certain defeat at the polls the next time round. There are many countries such as Ireland and Germany where coalition governments ensure representation of a greater part of the electorate and which are stable and efficient.

They say that it is better to try and effect change by working within a major party.

This has been proved incorrect throughout the last 20 years where a major party has reused to fall in line with EU standards, has refused to budge regarding spring hunting, has retained its discriminatory position on divorce for the rich, has refused to amend the unjust rent laws, has ignored questionable conduct by ministers and has condoned disastrous land use planning policies. There has been no impetus for change and there will be no incentive for major party reform if it is aware that you will vote for it again out of fear.

They say that a vote for the new candidates of either major party will bring about change anyway.

This is based on the shaky presumption that all the present underperforming ministers lose their seat and are replaced by newcomers. This is a highly improbable scenario. Voting for the same party which has allowed these ministers to get out of hand means that you are allowing it to happen again. A political party apologizing for its inaction or inability to change on the eve of the election is an admission of failure and a gimmick.

They are saying that a change of government might bring about withdrawal from the EU.

AD in a coalition government will resist all moves which are intended to undermine the electorate’s European aspirations.

Who are “they”?

You will notice that the anti-coalition brigade is mostly made up of persons who are linked to a major political party such as ex-ministers and chairmen of public corporation. Other commentators have business connections with major political parties and have a lot to lose if “their” party is not elected. These considerations should be kept in mind when weighing the credibility (or lack of it) of the obsessed anti-coalition brigade.